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The Patriots signed versatile free agent safety Jabrill Peppers yesterday to a one year, $5 million dollar deal. Peppers went 25th overall to the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2017 Draft.

At 5-11 215, Peppers is a dynamic athlete who can play all three downs and on all three levels. His versatility is exactly what Bill Belichick has been looking in a safety since Patrick Chung retired prior to last season.

Peppers can play over the top in two deep coverage, line up over a tight end or a slot and play in the box. He will play a similar role to the one Chung played here.

As an added bonus, Peppers also returns kicks. He could replace Gunner Olszewski as the team’s primary punt returner.

Staying patient and waiting For the second and third wave of free agency has paid dividends for the Patriots in the past. It appears to be the case again. Adding a player like Peppers, who is in his prime this late in free agency is a great addition.

The Patriots love to play with three safeties so expect them to do that even more this season. The addition of Peppers fortifies an already deep safety group. The Patriots now have Devin McCourty, Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips, Joshuah Bledsoe, Myles Bryant and Peppers. That is a lot of versatile talent at two positions.

Belichick waiting out free agency seems to once again be paying off. Peppers could be a steal.